Bible Question: Is the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and mentioned all through Genesis, Exodus, and in other books of the Bible the same land the jews occupy today--Israel? When did they take possession of it, and how do we know for sure that this is the "Promised Land" spoken of in the Bible? Someone asked me the other day why we should support the Israelis as opposed to the Palestinians in this war and I wanted to say because this land was given to them by God. But I didn't feel confident enough about how to answer the further questions that were sure to come. Can anybody help me? Thanks! |
Bible Answer: When Israel finally occupies all the territory God intends for her to have, according to Exodus 23:31, the land will extend from the Mediterranean Sea to the Gulf of Aqabah and from the desert in the Negev to the Euphrates River. At the present time Israel does not occupy all the land God has promised her. Exodus 23:31 NASB. "I will fix your boundary from the Red (F466) Sea to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River [Euphrates;] for (R637) I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you will drive (R638) them out before you." ------------------------------ FOOTNOTES: F466: Or [answer] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CROSS REFERENCES: R637: Deuteronomy 32:11; Revelation 12:14 R638: Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 5:2f ************* Amplified. I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the river [Euphrates]; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand and you shall drive them out before you. NLT. And I will fix your boundaries from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the southern deserts to the Euphrates River. I will help you defeat the people now living in the land, and you will drive them out ahead of you. NIV. "I will establish your borders from the Red Sea [1] to the Sea of the Philistines, [2] and from the desert to the River. [3] I will hand over to you the people who live in the land and you will drive them out before you." Footnotes: 1. 23:31 Hebrew Yam Suph; that is, Sea of Reeds 2. 23:31 That is, the Mediterranean 3. 23:31 That is, the Euphrates |